Mail-bag catching and delivering device.



No. 694,908. Ptented Mar. 4, 4902. c. n. BENNETT. MAIL BAG CATDHINGAND-"DELIVERING DEVICE.

'Application filed June 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTO)? WITNESSES fimw/r m -4 M WV m: NUHHIS m5 ca. mow-undo wnsnmmup. n. c.

No. 694,908. Patented mar. 4, 1902.

c. n. BENNETT. MAIL BAG CATCHINGAND DELWEBING DEViGE.

filed June 20, 1901 (Application 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

v ",I/ WII'TNESSES: INVEMTOH I BY nioniys.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

CHARLES R. BENNETT, or TULLYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR on TI-IREE-FOURTI'IS TO F. G. EDWA RDS, OF BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA, T. L. EYRE, OF VVESTGHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ROSALIE OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA;

wnicnr,

' MAIL-BAG. CATCHING AND DELiV'ERIN-G DEVICE.

QPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,908, dated March 4, 1 902.

Application'filed June 20,1901. Serial No. 65,264. (rumored To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GHARLESR. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tullytown, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catching and Delivering Devices; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mail-bag receiving and delivering devices, and has for its object the provision of improved means for hold- I ing the bag-sustaining arms away from the full and dotted lines.

track after operation.

My invention also contemplates other valliable improvements hereinafter set forth in the following description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a mail-bag receiving and delivering device embodying my invention, the different positions of the arms being indicated by Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the lower end of a spring-controlled shaft, the view being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 4: 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the end of one of the bag-sustaining arms, showing means for retaining the caught bag. Fig. 6 is a view showing another form of bag-retaining means.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A de notes a post or standard, to the upper end of which is pivotally connected a horizontal rod b. b is a similar rod pivoted to the post or standard below the red I]. The rods move in unison, being connected by a vertical rod 6 At the end of each ofthe horizontal rods is a horizontal armc, arranged at a right angle to the rod and secured thereto and provided at one end with spring-fingers, forming a clip d to receive the usual ring e'of the bag to be caught by the train. The opposite ends of the arms are pointed and are thus adapted to receive the rings on the bag thrown off from the train. To prevent the dislodgment of the bag delivered from the train, the receiving ends of the arms are provided with retaining devices, which in Fig. lfconsist of inclined spring-fingers f, to therear'of which the rings find secure lodgment.

In Fig. 5 is shown a retaining device consisting of a pivoted hook .91, having at its inner end an extension gflwhich when struck by the ring will cause the hook to move inwardly and close around the ring, the hook being locked by the engagement of its shouldered'outer end with a spring-catch g".

In-Fig. 6 the spring-finger is shown as being pivoted ona bolt f and provided at its inner end with an extension f to which is connected one end of a coiled spring f The other end of the spring is threaded to receive an adjusting-nut f, by which the tension of the spring may be variedi -h is a shaft vertically mounted in bearings a 0. on the post or standard. To the upper end of the shaft is keyed a gear-wheel i, which meshes with a gear-wheel i, fixed to the lower rod 6. A springj is fastened at one end to the post or standard near its base and is coiled around the lower end of the shaft.

' j is an opening in the inner end of the spring, which opening receives a pin is, ex-

. tending outwardly from the lower end of a lea finger Z. The finger by reason of the location of its hinge connection flexes in but one direction and is normally extended by the action of a spring Z The train is equipped with a companion re ceiving and delivering device consisting of a vertical rod M, having forwardly-extending pointed arms on m, which engage the ringse of the bag to be caught by the train, and with an intermediate-inclined arm m, which engages the bag centrally should one or both of the arms m fail to engage the rings. On the rod M, in line with the arms m m, are springclips n n, which hold the rings of the bag to be delivered by the train.

In the operation of receiving and delivering the bags the arms and rods and delivered bag are forcibly swung around the post or standard, and through the described gearing the Shaft is rotated and the springj put under tension. When the momentum of the moving parts is expended, the spring operates to reverse the movement, and to bring the parts finally away from the track the spring Z is employed. This finger flexes in the direction of the first movement of the parts; but in the return movement the finger acts as a stop for the parts through the medium of the rod 12 To set the device for the next operation, the lever K is moved to cause the disengagement of the spring and pin k, whereupon the parts are released and can be moved into the path of the train device.

I claim as my invention 1. A mail-bag receiving and delivering device comprising bag-sustaining arms rotatably mounted on an upright, a spring operatively connected with the arms to be put under tension by the rotation of the same, and a stop on the upright opposite the track side adapted to check the return movement of the arms.

2. A mail-bag receiving and delivering device comprising bag-sustaining arms rotatably mounted on an upright, a shaft geared to the arms to rotate therewith, a spring coiled around the shaft, means for connecting and disconnecting the shaft andv spring, and a spring-finger on the upright flexing in but one direction and acting as a stop in the reverse rotation of the arms.

3. A mail-bag receiving and delivering device comprising an upright, horizontal rods rotatably mounted on the upright, arms at the ends of the rods each arm having at one end a spring-clipto sustain the bag to be caught by the train, and at the other end with a bag-ring-catching point, means on the point for locking the caught ring, a spring operatively connected with the arms to be put under tension by the rotation of the same, and

a stop on the upright adapted to check the reverse rotation of the arms.

4. In combination, an upright, bag-sustaining arms rotatable thereon, a shaft geared to the arms, a spring secured to the upright and coiled around the shaft, a spring-pressed lever pivoted within a recess in the shaft and a pin on the lever adapted to engage a hole in the free end of the spring,

5. In combination with the pointed end of mail-bag-catcher arm, a finger pivoted on the arm near its end, a spring connected with an extension of the finger to hold the latter out- Wardly, and means for varying the tension of the spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES R. BENNETT.

WVitnesses C. MANINGTON, HENRY LovE'rT. 

